TAYLORS, S.C. (BP)–I have been speaking recently about the upcoming Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis, where our North American Mission Board will share a national evangelism strategy.
Almost immediately upon my election as president in 2006, I began meeting with persons from the North American Mission Board, stating to them that we desperately need a national strategy that pulls together churches in a common direction. While we know all churches are autonomous, we are hoping that all of our Southern Baptist churches will join together in this strategy. It is multi-faceted and flexible. It is one which will incorporate a large number of tools, emphases and ministries to mobilize the millions of Southern Baptists into being better soul-winners for Christ.
A third part of this initiative is “SOWING.” In other words, we want every lost person to receive a witness. The Bible tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In this evangelism strategy there will be times of emphasized outreach which will encourage all our churches to coordinate in massive times of sharing the Gospel.
The International Mission Board, under the able leadership of Dr. Jerry Rankin, has a goal of world evangelization and outreach to every known people group in our world. Isn’t it time that our continent had the same kind of goal and emphasis? We need a strategy to touch this continent for Christ. There are enough people within the Southern Baptist Convention, if properly motivated, trained and focused, to present a Gospel witness to every person on this continent within the next few years.
Please pray that there will be massive sowing of the Gospel seed.
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Frank Page is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C. The next column in this four-part series will appear in Baptist Press June 2.
